Handle controlled suction cleaner nozzle adjustment



Oct. 21, 1958 J. E. VANCE 2,856,628

7 HANDLE CONTROLLED SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE ADJUSTMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 50, 1955 IIIIIIIIIIII:

Oct. 21, 1958 J. E. VANCE 2,856,628

HANDLE CONTROLLED SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE ADJUSTMENT Filed March 50, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. E. VANCE Oct. 21, 1958 HANDLE CONTROLLED SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE ADJUSTMENT Filed March 50, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 21, 1958 J. E. VANCE 6,

HANDLE CONTROLLED SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE ADJUSTMENT Filed March 50, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 21, 1958 J. E. VANCE 2,856,628

HANDLE CONTROLLED SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE ADJUSTMENT Filed Marph 30, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 2,856,628 Patented Oct. 21, 1958 HANDLE CONTROLLED SUCTION: CLEANER NOZZLE ADJUSTMENT John"E.Vanc e, Canton, Ohio, assignor' toTlte Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 30, 1955, Serial No..498,014

15 Claims. (Cl. 15'.-359) *Thevinstant invention relates to suction cleaners "and rmore particularly to anovel cleaner manipulating means.

It is the prime object of the instant invention to pro- .vide a novel manipulating means fora suction cleaner which tmeans is operativeto selectively position the suctionnozzle of the cleaner.

his a further object of the instantinvention to prowvidet a novel suction cleaner having a' manipulating han- 'dle'anda nozzle body with means interposed between the'handle' and, the body for uniting the handle and-the ibody for'raisingxthe nozzle to an inoperative position :spaced from the cleaner supporting surface under control of the manipulating handle.

It is 'also an object of the instant inventionto provide at novel suction cleaner having a manipulatinghandle and a nozzle bodyrwith detent and sector control means interposed "between the handle and the body for positioning the handle in an upright storage position,=in which position the-manipulating handle is united with the nozzle body so that rearwardmovement of thehandle to its normal inclined operating position raises the nozzle from the surface on which the cleaner is supported, with the "cleaner'being maintained, in a stable self-supporting condition.

It is another object of the instant invention toprovide a novel suction cleaner having a nozzle body which ipivotally supports a manipulating'handle and motor-fan unit assembly and includes means for uniting the assembly to thetnozzle body sothat the nozzle=body rnay be'tilted rearwardly ,on the supporting surface by manip- :ulation ofthe handle to dispose the nozzle in 'a raised inoperative-position. The nozzle body is mounted on a ,pair of wheels with the pivotal axis of thehandle and motor-fan unit assemblylocated in substantially vertical alignment with the axis of the wheels'so that upon raising the nozzle fromthe supporting surface, thetweight of the motor-fan unit and the handle assembly does not oppose the force applied to the handle rfor lifting the nozzleifrom the surface.

Still another objectrof the instant invention is to pro- I" vide a novelsuctron cleaner having a nozzle .body and a manipulating handlewhich is operative totilt the nozzle body rearwardly on the supporting surface to dispose the nozzle in a raised inoperative position, and in which the weights of the various elements of the suction cleaner are so distributed that the cleaner is self balancing when the nozzle is raised as aforementioned, so that the cleaner is stably supported.

Further objects and advantages of the instant invention will appear to those skilled in the art uponconsideration of the detailed description of the several preferred embodiments of the invention which follow, ref: erence being hadto the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the novel suctioncleaner taken .on the line 1-1 in Figure 2 showing the manipulating handle in its upright storage position,

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the novel suction cleaner taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1,

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views of the novel-=suction cleaner similar to Figure l and showing themanipulating handle and the nozzle body in alternate' positions thereof,

Figure 5 isa'bottom plan view ofthe novelisuction cleaner of Figure l,

t Figure 6 is a sectional view of a modified form of the suction cleaner constructed in accordancewith :the instant invention taken on the line :66 in Figure 7,

Figure 7 is a partial wsectional view of the tsuc-tion .cleaner of Figure 6. takenon the line 7--7, and,

Figures 8 and 9 are sectional views 'of the suction cleaner of Figure 6 and showing the manipulating han- .dle and the nozzle body in alternate positions thereof.

Figuresl to 5 show one form of a suction cleaner con-- structed in accordance with theinstant invention having a nozzle body 10 formed with a nozzle 11 which is normally adapted to be disposed in contiguity to a surfacelto be cleaned for applying a suction flow of air thereto. A. pair of small wheels l2are mounted immediately behind the nozzle llon depending posts-lS-which are secured to the nozzle body 10 in any=suitable manner. The wheels "12 are adapted toposition-thenozzle-l1 in .properly spaced relation to a surface forcleaning-opera- .body 10. Each of the skirts 17 has a thickened 'wall portion 18 towhich are secured a pair of-stud shafts 19, each rotatablyzmounting aularge diameter nozzle body supporting wheel 2t). ,A peripheral furniture guard 21 made of.rubber, .plastic, or like yieldable material, is secured to the nozzle body 10 on the front and sidestherer of. -An appearance cover 22 overlies the nozzle body 10 and encloses the operatingelements of the cleaner.

The rear wall of the nozzle 11 is formed with a dirty air stream outlet 23, and a rearwardly directed air duct 24 is secured to the outlet 23 by bolts 25 or the like.

The duct 24 terminates in a cylindrical portion-26 which is disposed adjacent to and concentric with theeyeof a suction'fan 27 which is drivenbythe motor. The fan 27 is contained within a generallyscy-lindrical housing 23 enclosingtthe motor-fan unit, which may be of a known form. The housing 28 forms part of the manipulating handle and motor-fan :unit assembly and is rotatably mounted within the nozzle body lit as will appear hereinafter.

The cylindical portion26 .of the air=duct 24-includes a peripheral flange 29 on the rim thereof formed with a recessed annularbearing St} in the face thereof. The adjacent wall 31 of the motor-fan unit housing 28 has secured thereto, as by welding, a bearingfshoulder 32 which is complementally formed with .respectto the annular bearing 30 to seat therein and providea swivel mounting of the motor-fan unit housing' 28 on the nozzle body ltl. The aforementionedbearing assembly includes rings 33, 34, of felt or like inaterial, providing an airtight seal at the junction-of the air duct 24 and thehous'ing 28.

duct 24 within the nozzlebody 10 to support the motorfanunit housing 28.

The opposite end of the motor-fan unithousing 28 includes a projecting stud shaft 38 which is seated in a pillow block 39 secured to the nozzle body 10 by bolts 40 or the'like. l'l'hepillow'block 39 includes a liner 41 v Figure 1.

of bearing material such as Oilite for swivelly mounting the housing 28. It is thus seen that the motor-fan unit housing 28 is swivelly mounted within the nozzle body between the opposite sides thereof. The pivotal axis of the motor-fan unit housing 28 is located above the axis of the wheels in substantially vertical alignment therewith for reasons that will appear below. The centerline of the motor-fan unit mounted within the housing 28 coincides with the pivotal axis thereof.

A dirty air discharge conduit 42 is integrally formed with the housing 28 and leads outwardly from the fan chamber. A filter bag 43 of a known form is secured to the discharge conduit 42 in any satisfactory manner known to the art. The motor-fan unit housing 28 additionally includes an integral socket 44 projecting parallel to the dirty air stream discharge conduit 42 A conventi nal manipulating handle 45 for the cleaner is secured Within the socket 44 by any suitable means.

The structure of the novel suction cleaner of this invention, as thus far described, permits the handle 45 to be moved from the upright storage position illustrated to Figure 1 to an angularly disposed position rearwardly of the n zzle body 10. as shown in Fi ure 4, in which position the manipulating handle 45 may be conveniently grasped by the operator to manipulate the cleaner on a supporting surface which is to be cleaned. The manipulating handle 45, the attached filter bag 43. and the motor-fan unit contained within the housing 28 forma unitary assembly which is swivelly mounted on the axis of the bearings 32, 38, and pivot on that axis in accordance with movements of the manipulating handle 45 relatively to the nozzle body 10. Since the pivotal axis of the motor-fan unit housing 28 is in substantially vertical alignment with the axis of the supporting wheels 20, the weight of the motor-fan unit will be supported on the wheels 20 and will not aflect the disposition of the nozzle body 10 which is pivotally mounted on the axis of the wheels 20. Thus. the nozzle body 10 is floatingly suported on the wheels 20 whereby the nozzle 11 may accommodate it elf to irregularities in the supporting surface, and it will maintain a fixed disposition relatlige to surface being cleaned as determined by the wheels A pair of trail arms 46, 47 extend rearwardly from the nozzle body 10 and are connected at their ends by a laterally extending strut 48. A pair of stabilizing wheels 49 are rotatably secured to the trail arms 46, 47. The trail arm 46 includes an integral, forwardly extending crank arm 50 to which is secured one end of a tension spring 51. The other end of the tension spring 51 is secured to the motor-fan unit housing 28. The trail arm 46 is rotatably mounted on a hub portion 52 formed integrally with the motor-fan unit housing 28, and the trail arm 47 is rotatably mounted in like fashion on the reduced diameter portion 35 of the air duct 24. The trail arms 46. 47 are thus swivelly mounted on the motor-fan unit housing 28 and on the nozzle body 10 for movement in unison relatively to the motor-fan unit housing 28 and the nozzle body 10.

The tension spring 51 operates to bias the assembly comprising the manipulating handle 45 and the motorfan unit housing 23 in clockwise direction to locate the manipulating handle 45 in the upright storage position as illustrated in Figure 1. The tension spring 51 operates oppositely on the trail arms 46, 47 to bias them in a counterclockwise direction to maintain the wheels 49 in contact with the supporting surface. The counterclockwise movement of the trail arms 46, 47 under the bias of the tension spring 51 is limited by a pair of studs 53 secured to the nozzle body 10 at the rear thereof, and positioned to abut the trail arms 46, 47 as illustrated in In effect, the tension spring 51 will operate to counterbalance'at least part of the weight of the manipulating handle 45 and the filter bag 43 when they are disposed in the normally inclined operating position, as illustrated in Figure 4.

There is provided an upstanding lug 54 formed integrally with the motor-fan unit housing 28 and to which a rocker arm 56 is pivotally secured as by a rivet 55. The rocker arm 56 includes a fiat end 57 which loosely receives one end of a guide rod 58 secured to the motor-fan unit housing 28 on the land 59. A compression spring 60 surrounds the rod 58 between the land 59 and the flat end 57 of the rocker arm 56. The compression spring 66 is thus operative to bias the rocker arm 56 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 55. The opposite end of the rocker arm 56 has secured thereto a roller detent 61.

A bracket 62 is secured to the nozzle body 1%) as by rivets 63 or the like. The bracket 62 terminates in a sector portion 64 which cooperates with the roller detent 61. The sector portion 64 includes a first notch 65 for seating the roller detent 61 with the manipulating handle 45 in its upright storage position in the manner illustrated in Figure 1. In the position of the elements as illustrated in Figure 1, the roller detent 61 and the cooperating sector 64 unite the manipulating handle 45 and the nozzle body 1i) so that there is no relative movement therebetween. Rearward movement of the manipulating handle 45 to its inclined normal operating position will, accordingly, be transmitted to the nozzle body 10, raising the nozzle 11 from the supporting surface in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. With the nozzle body 10 so positioned, the cleaner will be supported on the wheels 20 and the trailing wheels 49. The cleaner may then be conveniently moved over thresholds and like obstructions for cleaning operations in different rooms. The wheels 20 are of large diameter for further facilitating movement of the cleaner over obstructions.

It is apparent that with the roller detent 61 engaged in the notch 65, the motor-fan unit housing 28 is also united with the nozzle body it? and fixed with respect thereto. Upon raising the nozzle 11 to its elevated inoperative position in which the nozzle body it) is tilted rearwardly, the pivotal axis of the housing 2.3 will move rearwardly in an arc having its center coincident with the axis of the wheels 24). The center of gravity of the motor-fan unit will then be disposed in a vertical plane to the rear of the axi of the wheels 20. Accordingly, the weight of the motor-fan unit, representing the most substantial part of the weight of the cleaner, wil not oppose the force applied to the handle 45 tending to tilt the nozzle body 10 rearwardly, but rather will produce a torque operating with the same effect as that force. The torque of the motor-fan unit will, however, be diminished by the counterbalancing ef fect of the tension spring 51.

The trail arms 46, 47 will at all times be biased by the tension spring 51 in a direction bringing the wheels 49 into contact with the supporting surface, so that there is relative movement of the nozzle body 10 with respect to the trail arms 46, 47 when the body is tilted to its elevated position. Movement of the nozzle body 10 relatively to the trail arms 46, 47 is limited by a stop stud 69 on the body 10, so disposed as to contact the forwardly extending arm 5% on the trail arm 4-6, as shown in Figure 3. With the cleaner parts disposed as shown in Figure 3, the cleaner will be in a stable condition, supporting itself on the wheels 2 19, 49, engagement of the arm 54) with the stud 69 preventing the cleaner from falling over rearwardly. A forwardly directed force applied to the manipulating handle 4.5 will restore the cleaner to its normal position as illustrated in Figure 1 with the nozzle 11 die posed in contiguity to the supporting surface.

When it is desired to initiate or resume cleaning op erations with the cleaner, the manipulating handle 45 is moved rearwardly, tilting the nozzle body 10 rearwardly until the stud 69 abuts the arm 50. Further tilting move ment of the nozzle body 16 will be impossible without lifting the nozzle body 16 off the floor. Instead, further wtion? 46'.

by a rivet 74 or the like.

feanwardxmovement .of. the manipulatinghandle .45 will snap the roller detent 61 over the hump-66 of the sector 64,4;he :force of the compression spring .60 being sufficient- 'lyt lowpas to allow thiscoperation of the manipulating .rhandle 45 and release the cleaner body whereby the nozzle .ndropstotthe surface being cleaned to the position shown in Figure 4. The roller detent 61 will then be disposed Pbehind themhump-66 of the. sector 64. and in frontof the humps 66,1 67. so that: theposition of the. manipulating hhandle 1 45 may vary-within the. normal operating range 'thereofin thecourseiof manipulating the cleaner. Should fit.be.:desi-red. to,use the cleaner-of the instant invention :fun'der Hfurniturerand the like, the manipulating handle may assume a substantially horiz-ontal po-sition. in order lo -move the manipulating handle 45 .to this horizontal po- .::.siticn, .the :roller detentsfil is snapped overthe hump 67 to wdispuseitdn the elongatednotch 68 formed in the hub por- To restore the manipulating handle 45 to its upw right storage "position, it is simply moved upwardly and priorwardly, and the roller. detent '6'1 overrides the humps n67 andi66. until it falls :within the notch 65. Aissecondembodimentof the instant invention is illusctratedtdn Figureso to. 9. .Thesconstructiontof the suction cleaner illustrated in these figures is the same as that of .nthez suction cleanerheretoforeidescribed, except as regards tithfi'fidllflllSfiOfilihe detent and sector'control means. Ac-

ecordingly;.thetcorresponding parts in Figures 1 to 9nbear thei samefireference numerals distinguished by aprime in :the second embodiment shown in Figures 6 to9. The ndiscussionwhi'ch follows is limited to.the features of the second embodiment which difierentiate it from the'first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 5.

The motonfan unit housing 28 includes an integral ear 70-to which is secured a laterallyextendingdetent 71. The cooperating sector 72 is pivotally secured to a lug 73 as A forward extension 75 on the sector 72 hassecured thereto one end of atension spring 76,the other end of'whichis secured to the nozzle body maintaining the manipulating handle 45' in its upright storage position. With the handle 45 so positioned, rearward movement thereof will operate totilt the nozzle body 10 upwardly and rearwardly raising the nozzle 11' from the' supporting surface in the manner illustrated in Figure 8. The sector 72 includes a stop stud 80 positioned to *abut the trail arm 46 upon rearward movement of the "nozzle body 10 to lirnit the extent of movement thereof. Theoperation of the control elements in the present embodiment'is-the same as that described in connection with "the first embodiment of the invention, and it will be seen that the axis'of the motor-fan unit housing 28' is "shifted rearwardly with respect to the vertical plane in which the axisof the wheelsZll is located. The same balanced condition will obtain, as described above, since the center of gravity of the motor-fan unit is coincident with the axis ofthe housing 28, and the cleaner will sustainits'elf in a stable self-supporting position.-

.To put the cleaner into operation, the manipulating handle 45' is restored to its upright position with the nozzle 11 disposed contiguously to the supporting surface. Pressure is then applied to the pedal 78 removing the sectstor; 72 fromthe detent 71, and the handle 45 is moved 1Iearwardlyttdisposingxthe. detentl 71 behind thelnotch 79.

.The sector 72 is then released under controlofthe tension spring 76, and the detent 71 will be disposed withinlthe elongated notch 81: which provides some freedom of movement of the manipulating handle .45 with respect .to..the nozzle body 10 within the normal operating rangeof the handle. Should it be desired to dispose themanipulating handle in a substantially horizontal position for reaching under. furniture and the like, the pedal( 78. is again depressed, releasing the .detent '71 from the. elongated notch '81 and disposing it in the elongated notch .82. When is to restore the manipulating .handle,45 to its upright storage position, it is simplyimovedtmwardly, whereby the detent 71 will .camthe. sector 72 rearwardly in opposition to: the tension.springf76ountil the detent 71 finally snaps into engagement with. thenotch F9. in all other respects than those above .noted,..the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 6.to 9 is the same in its construction as.thetembodimentcfirstdescribed.

The instant invention in manipulating. meansfor. suction cleaners. has been described in. .detail: hereimas embodied in several preferred forms. it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the described.embodimentsare subject to modifications falling within the scope :ofythe invention and, accordingly, it is not'in'tended. that the scope of the invention be. .limitedexcept. asisetpforth in the claims which follow.

Lelaim:

l. A suction cleaner having anozzle body with a nozzle adapted to be disposed in contiguitydto a surface for cleaning thereof, first and second, wheel. means to supwheel .means, a manipulating: handle pivotally mounted on the nozzle :body, said handle being-normally disposed in a rearwardly inclined position for operation, off-the cleaner and having an alternateupright storage position in which the handle is vertically disposedwith respect .to the surface, securingmeans interposedbetween the handle and the nozzle bo dy'for securing the. handle in upright storage position fixing the position of the: handle relatively to the nozzle body, movement of the handle toward its :rearwardly inclined operating positionmwhen it is secured in fixed position relatively to the nozzle body tilting the nozzle body rearwardly on theaxis of. theifirst wheel means and relative to saidsecond. wheelomeans to dispose the nozzle in an elevated inoperative position, means limiting tilting movement of the nozzlebody to locate the body with the weight of the cleaner so distributed as to maintain the cleanenin a stable self-supporting condition, and means operativelyupon continued movement of said handletoward its said rear-wardinclined operating position to release said securing means and allow said nozzle to drop tooperating position with respect to the surface.

2. A suction cleaner having a nozzleibody withanozzle adapted to be disposed in contiguity to asurface for cleaning thereof, first and second wheel means to support said nozzle body on the surface, means mounting said second wheel means for movement relative to saidbody, a motorfan unit mounted on the nozzle body with ,the center of gravity thereof disposed in substantiallyvertical. alignment with the axis of the supporting first .wheel. means, a manipulating handle pivotally mounted .on the nozzle body, said handle being normally disposedin a rearwardly inclined position for'operation ofthe cleaner and having an alternate upright storage position in which the handle is vertically disposed with respect to the surface, means interposed between the handle and the nozzle body for securing the handle in upright storage position fixing the position of thehandle relatively .to the nozzle body, movement of the handle toward its rearwardly inclined operating position when it is secured in fixed-posirearwardly on the axis of the. supporting first wheelfmeans and relatively to said second wheel means to dispose the nozzle in an elevated inoperative position and shifting the center of gravity of the motor-fan unit to a position rearwardly of the axis of the supporting first wheel means, means limiting tilting movement of the nozzle body to locate the body with the weight of the cleaner so distributed as to maintain the cleaner in a stable self-supporting condition, and means operative upon continued movement of said handle toward its said rearward inclined operating position to release said securing means and allow said nozzle to drop to operating position. with re-- spect to the surface.

3. A suction cleaner having a nozzle body with a nozzle adapted to be disposed in contiguity to a surface for cleaning thereof, a pair of wheels supporting the nozzle body on the surface, a motor-fan unit for generating a suction flow of air in the nozzle, means pivotally mounting said motor-fan unit on the nozzle body with the center of gravity thereof located above and in substantially vertical alignment with the axis of the supporting wheels, a manipulating handle secured to the motor-fan unit and forming a unitary assembly therewith including a filter bag, said handle being normally disposed in a rearwardly inclined position for operation of the cleaner and having an alternate upright storage position in which the handle is vertically disposed with respect to the surface, means interposed between the motor-fan unit and handle assembly and the nozzle body for securing the handle in upright storage position fixing the position of the handle relatively to the nozzle body, movement of the handle to its rearwardly inclined operating position when it is secured in fixed position relatively to the nozzle body tilting the nozzle body rearwardly on the axis of the supporting Wheels and disposing the nozzle in an elevated inoperative position, the center of gravity of the motorfan unit shifting to a position rearwardly of the axis of the supporting wheels and the weight of the motor-fan unit operating in a direction to tilt the nozzle body rearwardly, means limiting tilting movement of the nozzle body to locate the body with the weight of the cleaner so distributed as to maintain the cleaner in a stable selfsupporting condition.

4. A suction cleaner having a nozzle body with a nozzle adapted to be disposed in contiguity to a surface for cleaning thereof, a pair of wheels supporting the nozzle body on the surface, trail arms extending rearwardly from the nozzle body including surface contacting wheels, means mounting said trail arms for movement with repect to said nozzle body, a motor-fan unit for generating a suction flow of air in the nozzle, means mounting the motor-fan unit on the nozzle body with the center of gravity thereof disposed above and in substantially vertical alignment with the axis of the supporting wheels, a manipulating handle pivotally mounted on the nozzle body, said handle being normally disposed in a rearwardly directed position in which the handle is rearwardly inclined with respect to the surface for operation of the cleaner and having an alternate upright storage position in which the handle is vertically disposed with respect to the surface, means for securing the handle in the upright storage position fixing the position of the handle relatively to the nozzle body, movement of the handle to its rearwardly inclined operating position when it is secured in fixed position relatively to the nozzle body tilting the nozzle body rearwardly on the axis of the supporting wheels and relative to said trail arms and surface contacting wheels to dispose the nozzle in an elevated inoperative position and shifting the Weight of the motor-fan unit to a position between the axis of the supporting wheels and the axis of the wheels on the trail arms to maintain the cleaner in a stable self-supporting condition, and means operative upon continued movement of said handle toward its said rearward inclined operating position to release said securing means and allow said nozzle to drop to operating position with respect to the surface.

5. A suction cleaner having a nozzle body with a nozzle adapted to be disposed in contiguity to a surface for cleaning thereof, a pair of wheels supporting the nozzle body on the surface, trail arms extending rearwardly from the nozzle body including surface contacting wheels, a motor-fan unit for generating a suction flow of air in the nozzle, means pivotally mounting the motor-fan unit on the nozzle body with the center of gravity thereof disposed above and in substantially vertical alignment with the axis of the supporting wheels, a manipulating handle secured to the motor-fan unit forming a unitary assembly therewith including a filter bag, said handle being normally disposed in a rearwardly inclined position for operation of the cleaner and having an alternate upright storage position in which the handle is vertically disposed with respect to the surface, means for securing the handle. in upright storage position fixing the position of the handle relatively to the nozzle body, movement of the handle to its rearwardly inclined operating position when it is secured in fixed position relatively to the nozzle body tilting the nozzle body rearwardly on the axis of the supporting wheels to dispose the nozzle in an elevated inoperative position and shifting the center of gravity of the motor-fan unit to a position rearwardly of the axis of the supporting wheels, the motor-fan unit being supported between the supporting wheels and the trail arm wheels maintaining the cleaner in a stable self-supporting condition.

6. A suction cleaner having a nozzle body with a nozzle adapted to be disposed in contiguity to a surface for cleaning thereof, first and second wheel means to support said nozzle body on the surface, means mounting said second wheel means for movement relative to said body, a motor-fan unit for generating a suction flow of air in the nozzle, means mounting the motor-fan unit on the nozzle body with the center of gravity thereof disposed above and in substantially vertical alignment with the axis of the supporting first wheel means, a manipulating handle pivotally mounted on the nozzle body, said handle being normally disposed in a rearwardly inclined position for operation of the cleaner and having an alternate upright storage position in which the handle is vertically disposed with respect to the surface, means for securing the handle in the upright storage position fixing the position of the handle relatively to the nozzle body, movement of the handle toward its rearwardly inclined operating position when it is secured in fixed position relatively to the nozzle body tilting the nozzle body rearwardly on the axis of the supporting first wheel means and relatively to said second wheel means to dispose the nozzle in an elevated inoperative position and shifting the center of gravity of the motor-fan unit to a position rearwardly of the axis of the supporting first wheel means, counterbalancing means operative when said motor-fan unit is in said position rearwardly of the axis of said supporting first wheel means to return the motor-fan unit to its position with the center of gravity thereof disposed in substantially vertical alignment with the axis of the supporting first wheel means, the cleaner being maintained in a stable self-supporting condition when the nozzle body is tilted rearwardly, and means operative upon continued movement of said handle toward its said rearward inclined operating position to release said securing means and allow said nozzle to drop to operating position with respect to the surface.

7. A suction cleaner having a nozzle body with a nozzle adapted to be disposed in contiguity to a surface for cleaning thereof, a pair of wheels for supporting the nozzle body on the surface, a motor-fan unit for generating a suction flow of air in the nozzle, means pivotally mounting the motor-fan unit on the nozzle body with the center of gravity thereof disposed in substantially vertical alignment with the axis of the supporting wheels, 21 manipulating handle secured to the motor-fan unit and forming a unitary assembly therewith including a filter bag, said handle being normally disposed in a rearwardly inclined position for operation of tthe cleaner and having an alternate upright storage position in which the handle is vertically disposed with respect to the surface, means interposed between the motor-fan unit and handle assembly and the nozzle body for securing the handle in upright storage position fixing the position of the handle relatively to the nozzle body, movement of the handle to its rearwardly inclined operating position when it is secured in fixed position relatively to the nozzle body tilting the nozzle body rearwardly on the axis of the supporting wheels disposing the nozzle in an elevated inoperative position and shifting the center of gravity of the motorfan unit to a position rearwardly of the axis of the supsector to fix the position of the manipulating handle porting wheels, counterbalancing means operative in a direction to restore the motor-fan unit to its position with the center of gravity thereof disposed in substantially vertical alignment with the axis of the supporting wheels, the cleaner being maintained in a stable selfsupporting condition when the nozzle body is tilted rearwardly.

8. A suction cleaner having a nozzle body with a nozzle adapted to be disposed in contiguity to a surface for cleaning thereof, a pair of wheels for supporting the nozzle body on the surface, a trail assembly including arms extending rearwardly from the nozzle body and having surface contacting wheels, a motor-fan unit for generating a suction flow of air in the nozzle, means pivotally mounting the motor-fan unit on the nozzle body with the center of gravity thereof disposed above and in substantially vertical alignment with the axis of the supporting wheels, a manipulating handle secured to the- .wardly inclined operating position when it is secured in fixed position relatively to the nozzle body tilting the nozzle body rearwardly on the axis of the supporting wheels to dispose the nozzle in an elevated inoperative position and shifting the center of gravity of the motorfan unit to a position rearwardly of the axis of the supporting wheels, the motor-fan unit being supported between the supporting wheels and the trail arm wheels maintaining the cleaner in a stable self-supporting condition, means on the nozzle body abutting said trail assembly for limiting the tilting movement of the body, and counterbalancing means operative in a direction to restore the motor-fan unit handle assembly to its position in which the center of gravity of the motor-fan unit is disposed in alignment with the axis of the supporting wheels.

9. A suction cleaner as recited in claim 8 in which the counterbalancing means includes a tension spring interposed between said trail assembly and the motor-fan unit, said spring being suspended on a line offset to the front of the axis of the supporting wheels.

10. A suction cleaner as recited in claim 9 in which the point of attachment of the spring to the motor-fan unit is disposed in front of the pivotal axis thereof, the spring counterbalancing the handle when it is disposed in its normal rearwardly inclined position for operation of the cleaner.

11. A suction cleaner as recited in claim 8 including stop means on the nozzle body adapted to abut the trail arms when the nozzle body is disposed in its normal opcrating position, and said counterbalancing means includrelatively to the nozzle body.

13. A suction cleaner as recited in claim 12 including spring means biasing the detent into engagement with the sector, said means on the nozzle body for limiting the tilting movement of the body permitting the detent to be disengaged from the sector by further rearward movement of the manipulating handle.

14. A suction cleaner as recited in claim 12 in which the sector is pivotally mounted on the nozzle body and including pedally operated means for releasing the detent from the sector for positioning the nozzle in contiguity to a surface to be cleaned and locating the manipulating handle in its rearwardly inclined normal operating position.

15. In a suction cleaner having a nozzle body with a nozzle normally disposed in contiguity to a surface to be cleaned, a pair of supporting wheels rotatably mounted on the nozzle body at the rear thereof, a trail assembly including arms extending rearwardly from the nozzle body and having surface contacting wheels for stabilizing the cleaner, said trail assembly being pivotally mounted with respect to the nozzle body, a motor-fan unit for generating a suction flow of air in the nozzle, said motor-fan unit vertically disposed with respect to the supporting surface and a rearwardly inclined position for operation of the cleaner, means for securing the handle to the nozzle body in its upright storage position in which the handle is fixed relatively to the nozzle body, said means being releasable for movement of the handle to its normal operating position independently of the nozzle body, movement of the handle to its normal operating position when it is secured to the nozzle body tilting the nozzle body rearwardly on the axis of the supporting wheels and disposing the nozzle in an elevated inoperative position and shifting the center of gravity of the motor-fan unit to a position rearwardly of the axis of the supporting wheels, means on the nozzle body cooperating with the trail assembly for limiting the tilting movement of the nozzle body and maintaining the wheels on the trail arms in contact with the surface, and means interposed between the trail assembly and the motor-fan unit for counterbalancing the motor-fan unit handle assembly, to maintain the cleaner in a stable self-supporting condition when the nozzle body is tilted rearwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Segesman Mar. 16, 1954 

